Japan made its belated debut Tuesday as the 12th member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations in Malaysia after a four-month wait since announcing its intention to join the talks on creating one of the world's largest free-trade areas.
Japan was allowed to join after the U.S., the leading TPP economy, completed domestic procedures.
"We received a warm welcome from the negotiators of the 11 countries," said Japan's deputy chief negotiator, Hiroshi Oe, after the day's sessions ended.